Stamp-affixing machine.



c. Lmnsm'b'm, STAMP AFFlXlNG MACHiNE. {\PPLlCATION FILED MAY !3. i913.

1., 177,955. Patented A r. 4, M6. 5 SHEETS-SHEET c. LiNDSTRUM. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MAY 3, 1913.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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v. LINDSTR O M.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLlC'ATwN FILED MAY 13. 1MB.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3- gnu/2% 0. LINDSTRUM.

SLAM? AFFlXlNG MACHINE. APPUCATION FlLED MAY 13. 1913 Patent-ed Apr. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.-

c. LINDSTRUM. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

1,177,955.- 5 I Patented Apr. 4, 191(1 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

. CARL LINDSTRijM, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1915.

Application filed May 13, 1913. Serial No. 767,369.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CARL Lrzvosruiinr, a subject of the King of Sweden and residing at Gr. Fraukfurterstrasse, 137, Berlin, (3., Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Stamp-Aliixing Machines, of which the following is'a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for 'aflixing stamps to letters or the like, in which, in contradistinction to existing machines, the letters to be stamped are fed into the machine for the purpose of stamping them, by cylinders which revolve in opposite d5. ions, and, which at the same time aiiix the stamp on the envelop by their rolling action. For this purpose two cylinders are provided according to this invention which.

move in opposite directions to each other. If now the letter to te stamped is placed hetween the two cylinders, it is gripped and advanced bythe some, while at the same time one of the cylinders, during its rolling a'c-.

' tion, 'aiiixes a stamp which has previously been severedby the said cylinder from the stamp feeder, and moved pastthe mo-istener, so as to moisten it For this purpose the cylindenwhich affixes the stamp is in part constructed as a. com. This is necessary in order to insure that the said cylinder comes into contact with the moistener only at those placcswhere it carries stamps on its surface. A prolonged that part of the cylinder where there are no stamps, and log o'E-themachine.

Further in contradistinction to existing stamping machines it is possible to stamp euvclops to any required postage value with the improved stainp aihx-ing machine, without it being necessary to interrupt the workinf: of the machine in order either to place diderent stamps in the same, or in order to throw the feeding device supplying the reuii'ed diiierentkind of stamps into opera- W101i. According to this invention a simple device is provided by means or which letters may he stamped with the same kind of means to come into operation only after the required number of stamps have been moved past the some.

. In order to correctly indicate the number ,of stamps aiiiiied by the machine, a suitable counting mechanism is provided for this contact would moisten also.

thus endanger a reliable work-' stamps to any required value of postage, and

. which device aliows the stamp severing purpose according to this invention. This mechanism is connected to the adjusting mechanism and is so arrangedthat, depending upon the number of stamps to be aiiixed to a letter, it executes a greater or smaller movement, whereby a gear wheel also connected to the indicating device makes a greater or smaller revolution and thus turns the counting mechanism to the required extent, so that it indicates to correct number.

Further the stamp conveying device consists of a bundle of hooks which are provided with teeth, and which are more numerous than the stamp perforations. By this means it is insured that at least one hook engages with each perforation, and is thus compelled to advance the stamp.

One form of carrying the invention into effect is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of the improved stamp aiiixing machine, Fig. 2 is a section on the line A\A of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section on the line- 13-13 of Fig. 1 as seen from the right, Fig. 4 is a view of the counting and adjusting mechanisms, Fig. 5 shows the position of the eccentrics in rela tion to each other, which they assume when one stamp is aiiixed to 6 is a'similar view showing therelative position of the eccentrics when five stamps are affixed to each letter.

In carrying the invention into effect as shown in the drawings, the letter which is to be stamped isconveyed over the plate 2 of the casing 1 to the cylinders 3 and 4 which revolve in opposite directions. A slipping through of the letter between the cylinders without being stamped is prevented by the catch hooks 5, which are is fixed the camdisk 6, which is provided with openings 7 arranged on that part of the cam disk which has the same diameter as the cylinder 4. Through these openings.

pins 8 protrude, which are held in their normal retracted position by the springs 9.

in order to cause the pins to protrude from the openings 7, so as to hold fast the stamp there is provided in the interior ofthe cam disk 6, another cam disk 10, t .he cam surfaces 11 and 12 of which are so arranged that when the pins mount the car surface each letter, and Fig.

11, they are caused to prdject from their holes, and to engage with the stamp located above them, while when the said pins come into contact with the cam surface 12, they recede into their holes under the action of their springs 9, as soon as the aifixing of the stamp commences. The coil of stamps 13 is placed in the receptacle 14:, and the stamps are supplied to the feederhooks 17 1 by passing between the support and the clamping spring 16. The aforesaid feeder which comprises a plurality of uniform hooks 1T placed sideby side conveys the stamps under and past the plunger 18, to the cylinder 6, and the roller 19. The plunger 18 is connected by the arm 70 to the eccentric III in such afmanner that it remains raised, thus allowing the passage of the stamps until the projection 20 of the arm 70 slides down from the projection 21, and thus presses the plunger with. its projection 71 against the stamp and thus arrests the same. Previously to this the roller 19 which pivots about 22 and which is connected to 25 the eccentric II by the arm 23, has been already caused to press against the stamp so as to enable the cylinder 6 to carry the stamp along with it. Further to the lever 23 and the eccentric II, there is connected the moistening device, which is adapted to turn about the spindle 24, and which consists of an arm 25, at one end of which there is revolubly arranged a roller 27 covered with felt 26. Water from the tank 29 is 55 supplied to the roller 27 by the Wick 28. The spring 30 continually presses the wick 28 against the roller 27. On the arm 25 there is arranged a roller- 31, which bears against an arm 32Pconnected to the arm 23 and the eccentric II. The arm 32 is provided with a stop 33 which is arranged so that at the moment in which the roller 19 is again lifted (that is to say when the roller 34 has come up against the stop 35), the arm 5 25 raises the moistening roller 27. The roller 19 remains in contact with the cylin der 6 until the last stamp has passed the 'moistener. 36, 37, 38 and 39 are springs which hold the respective levers and arms to always in engagement with the eccentrics.

On the shaft 42 (Fig. 4), there is mounted the disk 53,'which is provided with holes 54;. Further the bell crank lever 55 is pivota'lly arranged on the said disk at 56. The other 55 end 57 of the aforesaid lever is adjustable,

and by means of a pin it may be placed in any one of the holes 5-1. This. lever end 57 is, however. fixed to a lever 58 also keyed on the shaft i2, and can be adjusted only on together with this lever. Close to the cocentric II, there is mounted on the shaft 42, another eccentric IV, which is also connected to the eccentric I and the lever 58, while to the disk there are rigidly conat nected the eccentrics III and IL fixed to the shaft 46.

By adjusting the bell crank lever and i 'thus also the lever 58, so as J0 vary the on gagement with the holes 54, the eccentrics 1V and I are each given a. difierent position in relation to the eccentrics II and III The eccentrics II, and IV may be so adjusted in relation to each other that a gap is 1 formed between the cams, as shown in Fig. 5, or that they form a direct continuation of each other, as shown in Fig. 6. In the one case, where they leave a gap, the roller 34:,

of the arm 23 will traverse a shorter distance, so that the roller 19 will be in contact raised position a shorter or longer period so L as to allow any desired number of stamps to pass unchecked underneath it. By inserting the pin 57 in one of the holes 5i all the eccentrics are rigidly interconnected.

Fig. 3 shows the driving mechanism for the cylinders. keyed a gear wheel 40 which in its turn engages with a gear wheel 41, which is firmly keyed on the shaft 42. On this shaft 42 there are further mounted the eccentrics I, II and III, which operate the tearing oil dcvi'ce, the moistening device, and theieeding device. To one end of the said shaft -12 there is attached a crank 43. On the shaft 42, there is further mounted the eccentric 44, which bears against the connecting rod On the shaft in there is further mounted the lever 47 to which is secured the cylinder 3, in which latter there are provided grooves 48 with which the catch hooks 5 engage.

The mode of operation of the cylinder driving mechanism, is as fcllowm li hen by turning the crank 43, the eccentric H depresses the connecting rod 45, then the lever 47 also depresses the cylinder 3. At the same time the projection 49 which is also fixed on the shaft 46 moves downward, and releases a .la 50, which is connected to the clamping spring 69. This spring is mounted on the shaft 51., and, owing to the fact that the pin 50 has new room for play, it presses the hooks 5 upward into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. '2. The springs 52 move the cylinder 3 always back again into the properposition. V

Fig. 4 shows the adjusting mechanir'mvin combination with the counting meclmnism. In order to enable the counting mechanism to indicate the use of more than one stamp On the cylinder 14 there is for one letter, there is connected with the counting mechanism X a .small gear wheel 59, whichmounte on the shaft 61. To the gear wheel 60 there is fixed a ratchet wheel (52, with which there engages a drag pawl 63 which is pivoted at 64 to the lever (55, which turns about 61. Further, the rod (36 is connected up at 64 and engages at y with the hell crank lever When the mechanism is adjusted to deliver one stamp for each letter, then the point 3 is near the center of the shaft 4'2. Consequently also the distance through which the drag pawl (ii-{turns the wheel (32, is very short (Fig. 4). If. however, the mechanism is adjusted for the delivery of more than one stamp for each envelop, e. 9. live, as shown in Fig. (3, then the point y at the center of the shaft moves farther away so that consequently the drag pawl 63, moves the wheel 6-). through a renter distance. For this reason. the counting mechanism is in the first case turned through a distance corresponding to one unit, while in the second case. which is mentioned by way of example. it is turned through a distance corresponding to five units.

The mode of operation of the stamp af'fixing machine is as follows :-When the cylinders 3 and 4 are over each other. and when the catch hooks 5 prevent the pushing through of the letters. the letter to be stamped is introduced into the machine by moving it over the plate 2 closely along the edge 67. In this position the plunger 18 and the roller 19 are in operation. The plunger 18 holds thestrip of stamps l3. fed forward by the feeder hooks 17 while the roller 19 turns the released stamp toward that part of the cylinder (5, which has the larger diameter. At the same time, how ever, the pins 8 strike the stop 11, whereby they are caused to protrude through their openings and thus grip the stamp. By continuing the turning of the crank. the stamp is severed from the coil 13. as the latter is arrested by the plunger 18, and the severed stamp is carried away by the pins 8 and the cylinder 6. The severed stamp now reaches the moistening roller 27 which descends so that it brushes over the stamp moved past it. and At the same time therewith the cam action of the eccentric 44 on the connectingrod 45 has ceased. so that the said rod raises the cylinder 3 through the medium of the spring 52, and depresses the catch hooks 5. The stamp is held in its position on the circumference of the cylinder 6 by the pins 8 and is thus carried around and affixed to the letter which is moved along by the frictional contact of the two cylinders 3 and 4. At the moment at which the cylinder 3 is raised the feeder hooks 17 more backward,

ears with a. larger gear wheel by the required thus moistens the same.

While the plunger 18, the roller 19, and the moistening device 2:"), Q'Lare raised. After the letter has been stamped and left the machine at (58, the feeder hooks 17 again advance the strip of stamps 13, and move the samebeneath the plunger 18, and the roller 1!), whereupon the cycle of operations recommences.

Ill ("S1883 where more than one stamp is to he afiixed to a letter. the procedure is the same. with the only. difference that the plunger 18. the roller 19, and the moistening device 25, 27 remain a longer period in the locked position in consequence of the ad justment of the eccentric ii in relation to the eccentric IV. Only after the last of the required stamps has moved past the plunger 18, does the latter arrest the movement of the following stamps from which the released stamps are severed by the pins 8 of the cylinder 6.

\Vhat I claim. is

1. In a postal stamp affixing machine, the combination of a pair of cyiinders adapted to revolve in opposite directions for passing the postai matter from the stamp-affixing point. one of said cylinders serving also for conveying a strip of stamps to the said stamp-affixing point. a plunger adapted to hold back the strip of stamps while the stamps required for the postal matter, are severed therefrom. aroller for pressing the severed stamps against the cylinder which is conveying them to the afiixine' point. and eccentrics for adjusting said roller, wherenumher of stamps may be pulled forth from underneath said plunger and then severed from the strip on the next descent of said plunger and means cooperatingif with said cylinders for affixing the stamps.

2. In a postal stamp affixing machine, the combinati of a pair of oppositely revolvingz cylinders and a device for moistcning the stamps when severed from the strip comprising a roller alternatclyl contact directly with ing wick and the stamp to be a moistenattached,

descend and thus mounted to rock and with eccentrics for influencing said moisteningz device in such a manner that the latter is in an operative position only during the moistening of the stamps and means cooperating with said cylinders for aflining the stamps.

3. In a postal stamp affixing machine, the combination of a pair of cylinders adapted to revolve in opposite directions for passing the postal matter from the stamp-afiixing point. one of said cylinders serving also for conveying a strip of stamps to the said stamp afiixing point, a plunger adapted to hold back the strip of stamps while the stamps required for the postal matter, are severed therefrom. a roller for pressing the ,severed stamps against the cylinder which conveys idiom to tliek a commas i ad usting; 1oller,'\vixerehy the ream *l'l mini lamps may 'be i lzh said plunger ed. from MW strip on the next d1 plunger counting mecha linking" the number of stamps for act'nating same from. me which ellect the adjustmentger and said roller and means with said cylinders for afiixing of said pl, cooperating the stam na all In a postal stamp affixing machine, means inolwiling a cylinder for passing the postal limiter irom the stamp affixing pointand for conveying a strip of stalnpsto said stomp "ailixing point, and a plurality of feeder hooks for advancing the stamp strip point, and econ to the stamp conveying cylinder, said feeder hooks being arrange closely side by side whereby even when the perforations;

in the stamps vary, areliable engagement of individual feeder hooks or seoarate bundles thereof withthe individual stamp perfora tionsis insured, stamp-retaining means comprising a cylinder, an oscillable hearing for said cylinder, a lever for oscillating said bearing and a revoluble cam actuating mid lever.

In testimohy whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses CARL "LINDSTRGM.

Witnesses:

VOLDEMAR Hatred, HENRY HASPER. 

